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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 5/2007

01-05-2007 | Original Article

Breast cancer survivors’ supportive care needs 2–10 years after diagnosis

Authors: Katharine Hodgkinson, Phyllis Butow, Glenn E Hunt, Susan Pendlebury, Kim M Hobbs, Gerard Wain

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 5/2007

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Abstract

Goals of the work

A significant proportion of breast cancer patients experience psychosocial morbidity after treatment, although their longer-term outcomes and supportive care service needs have not been comprehensively documented. The aim of this study was to identify longer-term outcomes and supportive care needs in disease-free breast cancer survivors.

Materials and methods

One hundred seventeen patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer 2–10 years earlier completed questionnaires to assess psychosocial outcomes including supportive care needs, psychological distress, and quality of life (QoL).

Main results

QoL and depression scores were consistent with community rates although anxiety scores were higher. Approximately two thirds of survivors reported at least one unmet need, most frequently concerning existential survivorship issues, thereby highlighting the unique needs of survivors. Years since diagnosis was not correlated with need levels. Survivors classified as clinically anxious reported over three times as many unmet needs and survivors classified as depressed reported over two and a half times as many unmet needs. Positive outcomes were frequently reported.

Conclusions

The findings have direct clinical relevance: irrespective of years since diagnosis, comprehensive and extended supportive care services are required to identify breast cancer survivors in need of supportive care interventions and remediate high levels of anxiety.
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Metadata
Title
Breast cancer survivors’ supportive care needs 2–10 years after diagnosis
Authors
Katharine Hodgkinson
Phyllis Butow
Glenn E Hunt
Susan Pendlebury
Kim M Hobbs
Gerard Wain
Publication date
01-05-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 5/2007
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0170-2

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